The stipulated settlement, which the five-member commission will consider at its March 15 meeting in Los Angeles, states that Go Lorrie's executives asked 23 employees to make $500 contributions - the city's limit - to Lee's campaign, then reimbursed them in cash, which violates state law.

The Chronicle discovered and reported on the contributions, which were made about two weeks after the airport announced it was reversing a decision on van curbside pickup locations, a move the company stood to benefit from. Lee has not been implicated in any investigations of the incident.

According to Gary Winuk, chief of enforcement for the state commission, Go Lorrie's agreed to the settlement, which includes 11 counts of money laundering. The stipulation states that Go Lorrie's cooperation with the investigation, the fact that it was a first offense, and the reimbursement of contributions to employees were mitigating factors in the settlement.

While the commission must approve the stipulation for it to become official, "Go Lorrie's has agreed to pay the fine," Winuk said. "In fact, it has paid the fine already."

Last month District Attorney George Gascóncharged two Go Lorries executives with 25 counts of misdemeanor money laundering and campaign contribution violations for allegedly funneling donations to Lee.

- Michael Cabanatuan

Staying the course: A judge ruled Monday in favor of the San Francisco 49ers' bid to start building a stadium in Santa Clara this summer, saying that a construction loan for the project could not be subject to a separate vote by the public.

Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Peter Kirwansided with the team and the city, who argued voters had already approved the $850 million loan when they passed, by nearly 60 percent, a measure to build the stadium in June 2010.

Opponents, including the grassroots group Santa Clara Plays Fair, were arguing voters should have a chance to weigh in on the loan separately because, when they approved Measure J, they were not fully informed of the financial risks involved in the project. The group collected enough signatures to put a referendum on the June ballot.

City leaders say the deal ensures that Santa Clara is protected from debt. The $850 million loan - backed by Goldman Sachs, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and U.S. Bank - was approved in December by the City Council, acting as the Stadium Authority.

"This action by the judge was definitive, and what it says was everything we've done is proper and in accordance with the overwhelming majority of people who voted for Measure J back in June of 2010," said Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews. "The 49ers, who have played in San Francisco for 66 years, are seeking to build the 68,500-seat stadium on what is currently a parking lot next to the Great America theme park.

"I know the 49ers are taking away citizens of Santa Clara's right to vote," said Deborah Bressof Santa Clara Plays Fair. "We've been lied to. We never agreed to take on $850 million of risk."

Matthew Zinn, an attorney for Santa Clara Plays Fair, said he was considering appealing the ruling.